Home / Education / Panjab University Students Demand Safer Commute After Dark
Panjab University Students Demand Safer Commute After Dark
27 Jul
Summary
- Poorly lit roads and lack of CCTV coverage on key routes used by women students
- Planned CCTV camera installation delayed, leaving campus surveillance inadequate
- Students avoid walking alone at night, forced to stay in library until sunrise
Panjab University's Central Library may stay open round the clock, but for many women students, the journey back to their hostels after dark is a cause for concern. Two key internal roads commonly used by girls returning from the library remain without CCTV coverage and have inadequate lighting, leaving dark patches and areas of complete darkness, especially near tree-lined areas.
Students report feeling unsafe and constantly on edge while walking these routes, with one describing the road near the tennis court as "almost in complete darkness" even if a few people are around. The university had planned a third phase of CCTV camera installation in December 2024 to strengthen campus surveillance, including these two critical routes, but the work is yet to begin.
Despite a budget of Rs 75 lakh allocated for the project, the cameras have not been installed, leaving the campus with around 120-130 CCTV cameras but none on these two important pathways. The lack of security infrastructure has forced many women students to avoid walking alone at night, with some opting to stay in the library until early morning and only returning to their hostels after sunrise.
